The hit that inspired the Jon Gruden-Mike Pereira dustup led to a $15,000 fine this week, while the league office played the Grinch to six Saints who showed too much Christmas cheer.
Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton was fined $15,000 for unnecessary roughness for striking a defenseless player in the head and neck area, the league office confirmed to PFT today. That hit on Saints receiver Marques Colston had Gruden ripping the officials in the ESPN booth, and Pereira ripping Gruden for not knowing the rules. In the end, the league office says the penalty was the right call.
Meanwhile, the NFL cracked down on several Saints for uniform violations: Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Tracy Porter and Pierre Thomas were each fined $5,000 because they all wore red and green tape.
Thomas was also fined $7,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct for putting a bow on the football to celebrate a touchdown.